Spotting rack apparatus



Jan. 28, 1947. G, S T 2,414,983

SPO'I'TING RACK APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 (V we. I l/ 5 A Q-l E /7 E 16 I 7 I 3 ZZ UZ I c/ZiznQSmiZh Jan. 28, W47. J. (3. SMITH SPOTTING RACK APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 31mm (/0717? aSmz'Z/z Patented Jan. 28, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPGT'RING RACK APPARATUS John G. Smith, West Memphis, Ark.

Application September 5, 1944, Serial No. 552,739

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a spotting rack apparatus and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this kind particularly intended to be used in public billiard halls to provide means whereby an effective accounting can be had of the games played.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind including a spotting rack for proper placement of balls for play upon a playing surface, such as a billiard table, and wherein such spotting rack is held normally under check control in an out-of-the-way or in an inoperative position but readily releasable for spot racking upon deposit of a suitable coin or other check.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved spotting rack apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a spotting rack apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in inoperative adjustment with respect to the table;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing the apparatus lowered with the spotting rack on the table;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View taken lengthwise of the apparatus as illustrated in Figure l, the line of section being on 3-3 of Figure 6;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 but showing certain of the parts in a second position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 11 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a view in top plan of the sliding sleeve or block and associated spotting rack.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, T denotes a conventional type of table used in the playing of pocket billiards or pool and kindred games and normally held at a desired height above one end portion of the table '1 is a conventional spotting rack or triangle S.

Carried by the corner portions of the rack or triangle S are the oustanding eye members I to which areafflxed the lower extremities of the flexible members 2 which are arranged in upward convergence and have their upper extremities secured to the eye members 3 dependiii ing from a sleeve or block 4 snugly but freely surrounding the elongated and vertically disposed housing 5 herein disclosed as rectangular in cross section although such configuration may be otherwise as preferred.

Carried by and disposed over the upper end of the housing 5 is a top plate or head 6 having a central opening I in communication with the housing 5 and. through which pass the flexible members 8. These members 8 are disposed over the diametrically opposed guide rollers or pulleys 9 mounted upon the plate or head 6 and extend outwardly and exteriorly of the housing 5 and with their exterior extremities secured to the upstanding members I ll carried by the sliding block or sleeve 4 at substantially diametrically opposed parts.

The flexible members 8 extend down within the housing 5 through the opening I in the top plate or head 5 and the extremities of the members 8 within the housing 5 are secured, as at H, to the top of a weighted member W.

Anchored. as at I2, to the top plate or head 6 at diametrically opposed points and preferably to the side faces thereof are the lower extremities of the upstanding hanger straps M which extend lengthwise of and have close contact with the associated hanger straps I 5 which depend from the ceiling of a roof or other support.

The straps of one of the pairs. as l5, are provided therealong with the slots l6 through which are directed the shanks of the headed bolts I! carried by the straps l4. Threading on the bolts ii are the conventional nuts I 8 whereby the i i straps I4 and I 5 may be effectively held in desired selective adjustment lengthwise thereof as may be determined by the desired elevation of the housing 5 above the table T or kindred surface with which the apparatus is to be employed.

The member W is preferably twice the weight of the sliding block or sleeve 4 and the spotting rack S is preferably of a weight substantially three-fourths of the weight of the member W so that the combined weights of the rack S and the block or sleeve 4 is greater than the weight of the member W, whereby before the rack S can be returned to its normally raised or e evated position, the rack S must be manually lifted. A the spotting rack S is manually lifted, the weighted m mber W will drop down within the chamber 5, or stack it may be called, and thus automati Cally raise or lift the block or sleeve and the S to a height determined by the extent of downward travel of the member W within the housing or stack 5.

As the member W reaches substantially the l mit of its downward movement, an portion of a weighted dog or pawl 18 carried by the Weighted member W cperatively engages a suitably positioned keeper member 23 carried by the housing or stack 5 and extending inwardly thereof, whereby the spotting rack S will be retained in it fully raised position at a required distance above the table T to afford no interference to the playing on the table T.

The keeper member iii, as herein disclosed, comprises a sliding blade which is normally maintained extended within the housing or stack 5, under the action of a retractible spring 2!. The pawl or dog it has one end portion pivotally connected, as at 22, between the arms 23 depending from the weight. W. This mounting of the pawl or dog it permits the same to readily swing not or to allow it to pass the keeper member 'nen pawl or dog IQ is extended below "nber the weighted member W will. be effectively held against upward movement.

In the embodiment of the invention, carried by the inner end portion disposed horizontally and radially tliwei -crn. The slide 25 operates through a side per i of the housing or stack 5 at the i ty thereof and also extends within g carried by the adjacent portion or" the or stack 5.

1 a of the housing or stack 5 separating or stack 5 from the boxing B is proa suitably formed opening 2% to per- ..ce sired movement of the slide 25 and whereby the blade 28 may readily move i the housing or stack 5 into proper posigaged by the dog or pawl it or the l ved outwardly of the stack or housing 5 distance sufficient to free the blade from the dog or pawl 9 so that the spotting rack S may be r (lily pulled down manually to desired position pen the table T to spot the balls.

The spring 9 hereinbefore referred to is operaiti... y d, at 22, to the outer end porti 1: the slide iiiancl to the front face portion forwardly enlarged lower portion of mg or stack 5. The slide 25 extends g enlarged portion 28, or receptacle as ay be called, and coacts with a check or coin of a conventional type which extends be portion or receptacle 28 through the outer or cut face. Upon the proper placement of a coin or check, the slide-s 25 and 29 will be caused have unitary inward movement, whereby the blade will be shifted into the boxing B oi the ext-ended dog or pawl 19. When a coin or check is not applied, the lide 29 will have endwise movement entirely free of the slide 25.

The coin mechanism is of a conventional type wherein, when the slide 29 has been shoved inwardly a required distance, the coin or check will be allowed to drop within the receptacle 28. It is to be stated that the coin mechanism in its f forms no particular part of the present ntion and may be of such a character as may be preferred.

A wall of the housing or stack 5 carries a conventional type of counting meter to including an operating member 3i extending within the chute or stack 5 for engagement by the weighted member W as it moves downwardly, whereby effective record may be had of the number of times the rack S is used. The character of the counting meter forms no part of the present invention although it is to be stated that the operating arm 3| is of a type to be inefiective during the and beyond the horizontal so movement thereof as effected by the upward travel of the weighted member W.

A wall of the housing or stack 5 also carries a normally open switch 32 interposed in an electrical circuit, said switch also including an operating arm 33 for contact by the weighted member W as it passes downwardly to close the circuit. The circuit is adapted to be comprised in an electrically operated cash register or other electrically operated reporting means which may be positioned at a point remote from the apparatus to provide further means whereby may be obtained a recording of the number of times the rack S is lowered.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a spotting rack apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A ball racking apparatus, comprising a relatively long hollow housing, means supporting the housing vertically, a head member carried upon the upper end of the housing, a, sleeve member encircling the housing and having sliding movement thereon below the head, a spotting rack, means coupling the spotting rack with the sleeve for suspension from the sleeve below the lower end of the housing, a weight member slidably positioned within the housing for free movement therein, rotatable guide members carried upon such head at the upper end of the housing, flexible connectors attached to the weight member and passing upwardly from the housing across said rotatable members and connected with the sleeve, and means within the lower part of the housing for automatically securing the weight member upon its movement downwardly in the housing to a predetermined position, said weight member'securing means being operable from outside the housing for the release of the weight,

2. A ball racking apparatus, comprising a, relatively long hollow housing, means supporting the housing vertically, a. head member carried upon the upper end of the housing, a sleeve member encircling the housing and having sliding movement thereon below the head, a, spotting rack, means coupling the spotting rack with the sleeve for suspension from the sleeve below the lower end of the housing, a weight member slidably positioned within the housing for free movement therein, rotatable guide members carried upon such head at the upper end of the housing, flexible connectors attached to the weight member and passing upwardly from the housing across said rotatable members and connected with the sleeve, means for releasably securing the weight member against reverse movement after it has moved downwardly to a predetermined position in the housing, comprising a keeper element supported at the lower end of the housing for sliding movement in a path extending transversely of the housing, means operable from outside the housing for shifting the keeper member, and a vertically swinging latch carried upon the weight and positioned to engage the keeper upon the downward movement of the weight to said predetermined position, to pass to a position beneath the keeper, said latch being constructed and arranged to assume a horizontal position beneath movement until the keeper is shifted.

JOHN G. SMITH. 

